---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 31327"
title: "46"
title_heading: "Shipping"
number: "31327"
heading: "Forfeiture of mortgagee interest"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/46/31327"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — Maritime Liability"
  - "Chapter 313 — Commercial Instruments and Maritime Liens"
  - "Subchapter II — Commercial Instruments"
---

# §31327. Forfeiture of mortgagee interest


The interest of a [mortgagee](/usc/46/31301.md?p=3) in a documented vessel or a vessel covered by a preferred mortgage under [section 31322(d) of this title](/usc/46/31322.md?p=d) may be terminated by a forfeiture of the vessel for a violation of a law of the United States only if the [mortgagee](/usc/46/31301.md?p=3) authorized, consented, or conspired to do the act, failure, or omission that is the basis of the violation.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–710, title I, § 102(c), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4746.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |
| --- | --- |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 31327 | 46:961(b) |

Section 31327 provides for forfeiture of the mortgagee’s interest if the mortgagee authorized, consented, or conspired to do the act, failure, or omission that is the basis of the violation that caused forfeiture of the vessel. This section makes no substantive change to law.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1989, with certain exceptions and qualifications, see section 107 of Pub. L. 100–710, set out as a note under section 31301 of this title.